KDDI unveils 4 new smartphones

KDDI Corp, Japan's cellphone operator has unveiled four new smartphones and announced a tie-up with Internet telephone company Skype in a bid to catch up with rivals in the booming smartphone market. It will hit store shelves in late November. The phone will also come with a Skype application, which will allow users to make unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls without being charged against their monthly minute allowance or data plan except when initiating calls.

KDDI plans to broaden the Skype service to more devices in 2011. Skype, which plans an estimated $1 billion initial public offering, has a pact with Verizon Wireless to offer its service on Verizon mobile phones in the United States .